Commenting on the report in today's Scotsman newspaper revealing that NHS Scotland has lost more than £70 million to the London treasury through an increase in VAT and National Insurance coupled with rising fuel bills, SNP MSP Bob Doris has criticised the UK Government for the damage caused to Scotland's public services.

Commenting, member of the Scottish Parliament health committee and Glasgow MSP Bob Doris said: "The SNP warned when the UK Labour and then Tory Government put up VAT and National Insurance that public services would be hard hit.

"We called on the UK government to take action then and I would urge them to look again at their decision to increase taxes on public services to pay for government debts.

"Glasgow find themselves in a difficult position. Whilst the SNP Government has increased NHS funding the UK Government has simply taken it away. However no one should suffer a loss of services because of UK taxes.

"The Scottish Government has taken action to cut energy bills in the public sector but with constant price rises not just hitting homes but hitting public services it is all the more important that the energy companies consider their price rises carefully and justify their decision to push up prices."